Borgo Pio

Right near St Peter's basilica, this place is clean, roomy, and nice.

When the square is quiet, this unusual little fountain is lovely to look at. It sits at the entrance to Piazza del Catalone in Borgo Pio, rather than in the middle, and gets overlooked when the street is busy. Its rough brick structure, travertine basin, marble base, and arch decorated with the papal tiara and crossed keys make it resemble a small roadside shrine to a pagan god. It supplies water for tourists and animals, from the Marcia aqueduct. I suspect it was built around the time of the fountains commissioned by Pius IX, or perhaps a little earlier, since Marcia water entered Rome's pipes in 1870. I used to think it was much older. If this was useful, leave a like and see my other Rome and beyond reviews.

One of the few fountains left after the Spina di Borgo was demolished in the 1930s, this distinctive structure stands out in Piazza del Catalone, in Rome's historic Rione XIV (Borgo). I'm glad it's back after I reviewed it in past years and deleted those reviews. Here's what I know. The fountain was built around 1860 by Pope Pius IX, Mastai Ferretti (1846-1878). A plaque recalls that it was fed by Acqua Marcia, and it still works perfectly. It has a brick, rectangular form on a white marble base, with two levels below. On the lower level, a small curved basin with a rounded edge catches water from a spout set into a recessed round marble panel, held by an unusual iron support. Above that is a plaque reading ACQVA MARCIA. The upper section has an oval papal coat of arms in relief, showing the Papal State's tiara and the crossed keys of St. Peter. A triangular pediment sits above it, framed in marble by two small travertine columns joined with a simple iron bar. That barrier helps prevent damage and makes the fountain easier to view. Water runs down from the basin to ground level and into a grate, with cobblestones around it. It has the look of an old, graceful sacred shrine. If you found this helpful, feel free to read my other reviews.

With its shared history behind it, this little public structure stands as if time has stopped. It holds its ground, keeping the surrounding buildings and businesses at bay.